Boy, was you born in a barn?

Now, usually, when I’m talking about building an “ISBU BARN”… I’m talking about erecting a big metal building to BUILD ISBUs in.

But many of you have expressed a desire to build a rural house using ISBUs that fits in with the landscape and resembles “the old homestead” that a lot of us dream about… just like in the movies… 😉

Many of you will think this more “stable-like” than “barn-like”. Okay, we’ll take it. 😉

Let’s face it…

There are those among us that aren’t plagued by hurricanes or tornadoes. The ground doesn’t roll and shake under your feet. That means you can do some things that we don’t normally do… like combining ISBUs with traditional “stick” builds to create “Corten Cool Homes” for “cheap-er”…

Yes, I said “CHEAP-ER”.

And just to prove it, we’re going to dissect one of these homes, in order to look at it under a magnifying glass.

One of the first things that you want to do when you start a build like this its to get it weathered in. That means you need a roof.

I know, I know…

I go on and on about SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels).

But (sigh!) there ARE other ways to build a roof.

You CAN build a pretty cool roof using standard attic trusses as long as you UNDERSTAND how they are used and you don’t push them beyond their design specs.

Now, it won’t be as cool as a SIP roof, but… 😉

Attic trusses are the most economical (and most popular) method for building roofs that include attic space.

And before you ask, YES, you can put SIPS over Attic Trusses. Coming from “wind country” (I blame my wife…) I like low-profile roof systems with decreased soffit overhangs. It’s less roof to tear off when hurricanes prowl the neighborhood…

But we’re talking about attics;

These spaces can be used for many purposes – attic storage space as well as useable and residential space. Beyond the “regular old run of the mill gable” roof… this also makes them ideal for the gambrel roof and cool “woodsy” A-frame roof profiles.

A roof truss isn’t rocket science.

A roof truss is just a load-carrying, spanning member made of wood or steel components (usually 2x material when they use dimensional lumber), connected together with metal plates and shear connectors.

And, it’s pretty straight-forward. You design your roof trusses around the load capacity that you require.

Attic trusses don’t just hold up the roof.

The bottom chord forms your floor joist. It’s often 2×4, however 2×8, 2×10 and 2×12 versions are available. Most common are 2×4 bottom and top chords.

But wait… there’s more,

When you use attic trusses, you don’t get “a typical floor” like the other floors in your home.

That 2x “Whatever” actually has your roof loading being transferred down through it right along with the floor loading. It will also include the storage loading beyond the knee walls and even the loading for the wall covering (dry wall/OSB/plywood/paneling) that you install on the knee walls.

Every once in a while you’ll come across a home with 2X6 lower chords.

Every once in a while you’ll find 2X6 top AND bottom chords.

And every so often you even see 2×8’s, 10’s, 12’s being used as part of the truss construction.

Now, we’re talking “beefy trusses”. If I was building out in “the wilds” you can bet that I’d sure consider using these “trusses on steroids”.

More wood equals more strength.

Here’s how it normally works:

When we specify a “conventional” roof, plans typically include a roof framing (layout) plan, a cross-section view and what I like to call a “glamour view”. 😉

This is just a guideline to (a) show you what you’re building and (b) it illustrates the recommended truss profile to anyone that asks. In most cases, this “roof package” is what you’re going to give to your truss engineering firm or manufacturer, so they can build/ship the right trusses to your local supplier.

Okay, I love Hip Roofs… I just love them… 😉

You’ll get a similar package that contains your attic roof plan, based on your projects criteria and requirements.

But it doesn’t stop there:

While you are ordering your trusses through your materials supplier or setting up your project with your builder, you can request adjustments to the profile. This gets really important if you’re trying to match an adjacent building, conform to a local set of CC&R’s etc…

Roofing trusses are a big deal.

Remember, the roofing truss system is integrated into your home’s primary support system.

And now you know that Attic Trusses are indeed STRUCTURAL TRUSSES.

This means that you don’t let idiots cut or drill holes in them under any circumstances. Your plumber doesn’t get to modify them by drilling holes in them to pass PVC or PEX thru like he would other 2xX’s in your home!

Now Serving Happy Customer Number:

1,762,277 plus 1 grumpy old codger (who needs his mouth washed out with soap!) and a couple of stalkers. :)

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While this book has been incredibly well received in both the building and architectural educational realms, we aren't just teaching colleagues and Architectural Schools how to build using ISBUs. Seriously, this book has helped MANY families pave the road to housing independence!

We all know that Cable TV has made ISBU construction "fashionable". Because of this... there are lots of "theorists" in ISBU construction right now.

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The Vault!

DANGER!! DANGER, Will Robinson!

For the record, let me make this perfectly clear...
Blogs are about opinions. And some of us, myself included, have strong ones.
Some of us, myself included, can't be counted on to be "politically correct" all the time. So be advised that I call 'em like I see 'em, and sometimes I use strong language to make a point...
If you don't like that, I suggest you change the channel. If you DO like that, I appreciate your patronage.
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Do you know a LEFTY Soldier who needs some “Strat Love”?

For some time now, (in fact, since 2009) we've been rehabbing and sending Lefty Fender Guitars and amplifiers to soldiers overseas.

Yes. We do Gibson's and Epi's too, but it's all about finding affordable "candidates" on a budget.

These axes are upgraded, stuffed into SKB TSA cases and then shipped out with all the goodies our paychecks will allow.

And every once in a while (about 25% of the time) a battery powered amplifier or (gasp!) a solid state or tube amp makes the trip, to insure that the whole squad can share the love that we're sending.

Yes. The amps get packed carefully into ATA cases and then... off they go!

We're NOT telling you this to ask for donations. We're trying to find hard-working men and women currently serving in harm's way... so that we can send them a gift to remind them that we love them and understand their personal sacrifices.

IF you have some old gear in a closet or laying around collecting dust, we'll be happy to rehab it for distribution to a soldier that needs some love.

If you know a LEFTY guitar playing American HERO, we wanna hear about it.

Why lefties? Because WE'RE lefties and we can work on and set up LEFTY guitars. And truth be told, lefties get left out. Lots of righty guitars in circulation. Very few lefties make it into the pool.

We think that sucks, so we're doing something about it, ourselves.

And, know that they'll never know where it came from. "Guitar GIfting" anonymously means just that. We don't need "atta-boys" or pats on the back... THEY do.

And we're gonna make sure they get them.

Feel free to contact us with candidates, or if you find something you think that we can use. We love doing this. And more importantly we know that they love it too.

Send Hate Mail Here: :)

renaissanceronin@gmail.com

Captain America would be proud!

The Secret Strat Project builds Fender and Gibson Guitars and then GIVES them away to US Soldiers serving our country overseas. You see, a little Maple, Alder, Rosewood and Ash can build a bridge all the way back home! If you'd like to help, please strum that beautiful Stratocaster with your mouse and follow the link!